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Nov 28, 2011

Free Printables: Advent Calendar

We have begun decorating the house (inside and out) as we prepare for Christmas. One of the first things I put together was our advent calendar..... I asked the kids to tell me things they wanted to do this month so I could be sure to incorporate their ideas into the calendar. Then I added a few of my own ideas and a few I've seen around the web. Most importantly, this calendar serves as one way to help us keep the focus on our Savior's birth during the Christmas season.

For the advent calendar, I typed up an activity for each day (available for you below!), then printed the sheet, cut out each square...

.... rounded the corners....

.... then placed each paper into a numbered burlap sack that corresponds with the date we plan to do the activity. The burlap is sealed with washi tape (note: the washi tape doesn't stick extremely well to the burlap, but it looks cute!).

All the burlap sacks, except #1 (the wrapped present), are piled in a glass jar on our coffee table....

Every morning, beginning December 1st, the kids will take turns opening a sack, pulling out the slip of paper and then we'll all participate in the activity. This is the first year we're doing this and I'm a little excited (the kids can't wait to open the present).

Creating the calendar was extremely easy! Later this week I'll show you how I made those teeny-tiny burlap sacks- they were easy too, just a little messy! But today, I included a FREE printable advent calendar for you, if you'd like to incorporate a few fun things to do during the month of Christmas.....

1. Read "The First Christmas", by Carol Heyer.
2. String lights outside. Read John 8:12, Jesus is the light of the world.
3. Give handmade salt dough ornaments to friends.
4. Have a Silent Night in the house. Turn off electronics, light candles, sing "Silent Night", then go for a walk with a flashlight.
5. Make Christmas cards for family & friends. Read John 20:21, peace be with you.
6. How can you share Joy with others? Your family? Your friends?
7. Create a Christmas craft with friends, design a special Christmas plate.
8. Read “My Merry Christmas and the Real Reason for Christmas Joy”, by Sally Lloyd-Jones.
9. Bake and frost (and eat) cut-out cookies.
10. Participate in a cookie swap party and delight friends with extra special homemade Christmas cookies.
11. Walk through a live nativity scene.
12. Make a craft of baby Jesus in the manger. Read Luke 2:7.
13. Drink hot cocoa & stir with candy canes. Read I Peter 2:24 & Psalm 23:1. Candy canes remind us of the Shepherds’ crook and the Savior, who is “The Good Shepherd”. Read Psalm 66:1-2.
14. Ring bells to make a joyful noise & sing "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". (Include silver bells.)
15. Host a gingerbread party with friends. Read John 6:34-35, Jesus is the bread of life.
16. Have a family Christmas movie night.
17. Cut down a Christmas tree, decorate the tree. Discuss how evergreen trees remind us of Jesus' everlasting love.
18. What is God’s gift to us at Christmas? Sing “Away in a Manger”.
19. Hang an angel ornament on the tree. Read Luke 2:8-20, angels tell the shepherds of Jesus' birth. (Include angel ornament.)
20. Package goodie bags for neighbors. How can we show our love to others this Christmas and throughout the new year?
21. Drive around town to see Christmas lights.
22. Wrap Christmas presents. Read Matthew 2:11. Why do we give each other
gifts at Christmas?
23. Bake a cake for Jesus.
24. CHRISTMAS EVE, Read Matthew 2:1-12, how did the Wise Men know that Jesus
had been born? (Include golden star stickers.)
25. CHRISTMAS DAY, Read Luke 2, the birth of Jesus. Celebrate!

As always, my printables are available for personal use from me to you, for FREE! I left off the numbers in the printable to give more flexibility. So, go ahead.... download, print, or just pass along the link... enjoy!!!

Click the link above to download the pdf file and print on 8.5/11" paper (preferably white/cream colored card-stock), then cut along the dotted lines so you'll eventually have 25 cut-outs. Once printed, place in a fabric sack, box, stocking, jar.... there's so many ways to hang an advent calendar! Have fun!

1 comment:

i love it! my kids and i did something very similar for an advent calendar as far as doing activities that spread christmas cheer vs getting trinkets and candy. i think it will help us all get excited so much more!